For more than thirty years, Boston native turned LA convert Mark Mahoney has been busy. Not just busy, like he has a lot of work to do. Anyone can just be busy. Mark Mahoney is the kind of artist who is busy. Tattooing celebrities? Check. Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt – Mark actually works in close production with British director Tony Scott, creating tattoo design work for characters in his films. Most recently his tattoo design work can be seen Columbia Picture’s The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3.
Fashion world links? Got it. Not only are they fashion world links, but in Mahoney’s estimation, he took part in one of the …very first times fashion and tattooing came together. That entire movement now seems to be gaining in momentum.
Mahoney’s black and white art definitely retains the feel of something gritty and raw, like the street itself with a harshly sincere LA vibe. One of my personal favourite Mark Mahoney tattoos is of a Mexican day of the dead mask, resting below the stylish script of the words Los Angeles. It’s a stunning tattoo, most notably for the three dimensional work on the mask. Unfortunately, I can’t find a photo of the tattoo online, so if you’re interested in looking at this beauty along with a whole lot more of Mark Mahoney’s work, you can do so by clicking here. and viewing Mark’s entire online gallery.
Last but not least, let’s not forget LA’s notorious Shamrock Social Club -which Mahoney presides over as owner and artist – and where some of the finest black and grey (okay, and sometimes colour too) can be had if your pockets got the green.
One of the tattooing world’s greats.